27 August 2007

What are you reading right now?

What are you reading right now?RootsI started it about a week ago and am almopst halfway through. It is for bookclub and is the follow-up read to last month's Gone With the Wind. In this case it could be called "The Other Side of the Story."

I am also reading the latest New Yorker magazine (haven't gotten past Talk of the Town yet) and the latest edition of Tin House to which I received a gift subscription for my birthday. It is an interesting publication that contains excellent work along with some stuff that looks like it was pulled from the local high school's "literary" magazine.

Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?My shelves of unread books overflows, but I'm leaning toward "The Evil B. B. Chow and other Stories" by Steve Almond. I haven't read a short story collection in a while and the few Steve Almond pieces I've read have me intrigued. Of course a trip to the bookstore could quickly derail that plan. It will be something to look forward to after completing all 888 grueling pages of Roots.

What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now?The New Yorker, Wired, Marie Claire, Outside and something I would not have believed existed until my husband brought it home called Primitive Archer. Seriously. Clearly my husband has never gotten over Y2K.

What’s the worst thing you were ever forced to read?The Silent Cry is the worst thing in recent memory. I wasn't exactly forced because it was for my book club so no grades or money depended on it, but it was torturous for me. Farther back to my school days I would have to say some of the plays I was forced to read in my theater classes were among the worst including Ioneesco's Rhinoceros. I just didn't "get" the greatness of that one. (Sorry J. Fred.)What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?I tend to always recommend the last book I really, really loved. Right now that book is Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I just really enjoyed and was completely taken by surprise by that book and I have mentioned it to just about everyone I know that reads. There are certainly things I think everyone should read, but I generally don't go around making recommendations like that.

Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don’t they?Definitely not. Don't tell the people I work with, but I don't even have a library card of my own. (Yes, Zoe has one.) I like to own my books. Lend them out if I choose too. Let them sit on my shelf for months unread like delicious fruits ripe for picking at any moment. I love books and I am rarely satisfied with borrowing them. (My own copy of Special Topics is on its way to be me as I type.)

Is there a book you absolutely love, but for some reason, people never think it sounds interesting, or maybe they read it and don’t like it at all?I think The Secret History by Donna Tartt falls squarely in that category. I don't even know why, but I just really enjoyed that book (both times I read it), but I have never met anyone else who would list it among their favorites.

Do you read books while you eat? While you bathe? While you watch movies or TV? While you listen to music? While you’re on the computer? While you’re having sex? While you’re driving?

While eating: Whenever I get the chance. I especially love leisurely breakfasts with a good book or magazine. Reading while eating is one of the best parts of eating alone.

While bathing: Nah. Not a bath taker and books and showers just don't go well together. If they did, I would probably try it.

While watching movies or TV: Definitely while watching TV and especially when the TV show is something aimed at my daughter or that my hsuband has chosen. Never while watching a movie. I love movies so I pay attention to them.

While you listen to music: Not usually because I just don't put music on that much if I am not at my desk at work or in the car and I think driving, listening to music and reading would be a bit hazardous.

While on the computer: No. I mean a lot of being at the computer is reading, but I don't read something else while I am doing something on the computer.

While having sex: No. Reading material is usually cast aside at that time.

While you're driving: No. See "While you listen to music" above.When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits?No, but it used to drive my Dad crazy. He used to say that my brother and I were the only two kids who had to be told to put the book down and go outside to play. I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't reading something, but I think my true obsession with books hit me right after I quit graduate school and I had a job, but was overwhelmed with the free time on my hands even after working 40 hours a week. It was then that I discovered Half Price Book Store and truly fell in love with reading just for the enjoyment of it.

What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?I don't know. Since I had Zoe I haven't been able to force myself to stay awake to read like I used to. I can remember reading Jurassic Park all in one night as well as a few Jane Green novels, but I have no idea what the last book was.